Trentham Easter treats include new Adventure Playground

One of the UK’s most cracking days out, the Trentham Estate has some extra tasty Easter treats this year – including a brand new toddler zone at the popular Adventure Playground.

Along with the traditional splash of colour from banks of golden daffodils and tens of thousands of spring bulbs around the award-winning Trentham Gardens, the Estate, on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, is lining up a feast of family fun, ranging from an egg-citing trail through the Monkey Forest to an enchanting woodland fairy trail.

And as well as firm family favourites – including the chance to get naked from the knees down with the re-opening of the Barefoot Walk for the new season, and an Easter Egg Trail through the gardens – Easter will see the unveiling of the new-look Adventure Playground.

As ever, youngsters can tackle the assault course, zoom down the zip wire and fly high on the swings, but new for 2017 is the toddler zone with a natural and nautical themed adventure area. At its heart is a large sand play area with diggers and activity tower, as well as a new nest swing, toddlers’ seesaw and springy bees, plus additional cradle swings and extra seating. The new-look toddler zone also now includes three activity boats, one of which is wheelchair accessible, on a “sea of sand”.

Or how about snapping a selfie with the 15 fairies, including the “life size” ‘Wishes’, on the Trentham Fairy Trail which winds around the lake, woodlands and gardens? Let the train take the strain and hop aboard the Trentham Fern*, the Estate’s miniature train, for a ride up and down the mile-long, Capability Brown designed Trentham Lake. Or take to the water and go exploring by boat, with a cruise on Miss Elizabeth, Trentham’s own electrically-powered, ecologically friendly, 42 seat catamaran.

In keeping with Springtime, Trentham will also be hosting special lambing events on 10-16 April; and over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend (14-16 April) visitors will be able to meet the farmer and his wife from 10am-4pm, to ask any questions about the lambs and their mothers.

Across the gardens and parkland, it will be possible to see all the signs of spring bursting into life with fabulous floral displays – including a sea of gold from thousands of daffodils, a dazzling display of bluebells in the woodlands and the ongoing creation of the largest sequence of colourful ‘pictorial meadows’ in any historic landscape in the country.

Elsewhere on the 725-acre Trentham Estate, Trentham Monkey Forest might be home to 140 free roaming Barbary macaques viewed from woodland paths, but April will also see bunnies making an appearance for a special Easter Trail (1 – 23 April) – but watch out for the cheeky monkeys who might point you the wrong way! There will also be face painting over the Easter Weekend (extra charge applies).

For your own treetop adventures, head for Aerial Extreme, a spectacular treetop journey through the woodland with courses that cater for enthusiastic novices or adrenaline junkies.

The Trentham Estate also boasts a range of shops, cafes, restaurants and – with one eye on the weather getting warmer – ice cream parlours!